Notes: words and music
(according to Sing Out! 26(1) (1978), page 33, "to the tune of 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home'") by Malvina Reynolds; copyright 1977 Schroder Music Company, renewed 2005.
In 1977 a decision by one Judge Simonson of Madison, Wisconsin, relieved
some young men of responsibility for a sex crime they committed on the
basis of rather dubious reasoning. The story was quickly picked up by
the national news. Malvina's song was written in response to his decision
and contributed to a recall campaign that eventually removed Simonson
from the bench.

The judge said "Screw 'em!
Boys, you're only human.
They brought it on themselves
By being born a woman.
Like a mountain's there to climb
And food's there to be eaten,
Woman's there to rape,
To be shoved around and beaten."

Chorus:
The judge took his position,
The judge he wouldn't budge,
So we've got out this petition,
And we're going to screw the judge.

Now if you beat a horse or dog
Or violate a bank,
Simonson will haul you in
And throw you in the clink.
But violate a woman,
Your equal and your peer,
The judge will slap you on the wrist
And lay the blame on her.

(Chorus)

To draw a true conclusion
From what Simonson has said,
Woman has to live in fear
And cover up her head.
She has to dress in purdah
And lock herself in cages,
And this kinky judge in Madison
Is from the Middle Ages.

The judge took his position,
The judge he wouldn't budge,
So we've got out this petition,
And we're going to dump the judge.

Malvina Reynolds songbook(s) in which the music
to this song appears: ---- [none]

Other place(s) where the music to this song appears:
---- Broadside No. 137 (October-December 1977)